More new home sites required by Planning Inspector

Published: 20 August 2024

The Local Plan Inspector has asked West Berkshire Council (WBC) to suggest a number of additional housing sites for inclusion in the Local Plan 2023 to 2041.

The Local Plan is a set of overarching planning documents setting out, among other things, where and when houses will be built in the coming years. The Local Plan Review covers the period to 2041 and is currently being examined by a Planning Inspector.

On 19 November 2023, in response to WBC’s proposal to withdraw the Local Plan, the Housing Minister directed the council to progress the plan through the examination process. Following public hearings, the Planning Inspector has found a shortfall of around 850 homes against the requirement for at least 9,270 new homes to be built between 2023 and 2041. The inspector recently set out the next steps for WBC to take before he can consider whether the plan is sound, and these included asking WBC to suggest new sites to meet the shortfall. WBC has suggested the following sites:

· Land near Henwick Park, Bowling Green Road, Thatcham – approximately 225 homes

· Land near Regency Park Hotel, Bowling Green Road, Thatcham – approximately 45 homes

· Land at Pincents Lane, Tilehurst – approximately 138 homes

· Land north of Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne – approximately 25 homes

The sites have all been submitted through the Local Plan process as available for new homes.

WBC has also identified an area north of Newbury which might be suitable for future development and which has potential to deliver between 650 and 800 homes later in the plan period.

The Planning Inspector also found that a proposed site in north east Thatcham has capacity greater than the suggested 1,500 homes – to make effective use of the site, the number should be increased to 2,500 homes. Not all the extra 1,000 homes would be built in the current plan period, the majority are likely to be delivered after 2041.

The Planning Inspector will now consider the suggested new sites and issue a report with his preliminary findings. WBC will consider his report and full Council will need to agree any modifications ahead of further public consultation.

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